Holiday gift guide: Wearable technology

Asked to compile a Christmas list (how hard could it possibly be to shop for me?), I found myself wishing Apple had delivered the long-rumored iWatch in time for the holidays. My husband hates gifting clothing—his perpetual state of arrested development makes him believe Santa only brings toys—and I’ve yet to convince him that handbags give me the same rush a new gaming console gives him. So the iWatch came to mind, because wearable tech is at the intersection of what each of us considers the perfect holiday gift.

The time for fashionable gadgets is here and expected to explode in upcoming years. Fueling iWatch rumors last July, Apple poached Paul Deneve from the Yves Saint Laurent fashion house to work on "special projects”. In September, New York Fashion Week models accessorized with Google Glass and the Samsung Galaxy Gear smart watch. And glamour and geek converge once again this week for the Wearable Tech Expo.

While it remains to be seen if Apple will ever release the much anticipated iWatch (or if Microsoft will dabble in lingerie, of all things), there is already a wide selection of wearable tech available this holiday season.

1. Samsung Galaxy Gear – Compatible with Galaxy phones, this smart watch is a digital assistant and allows you to place and answer calls right from your wrist.

2. Kate Spade iPhone Wristlet – With just enough room for your phone, ID and a couple of credit cards, this is a handy purse-alternative for concerts and summer festivals. I have this one and love it.

3. Everpurse – Power your phone all day long with Everpurse’s stylish charging pocket.

4. USB Cable Bracelet – Designed by names like Mara Hoffman, Milly and Rachel Zoe, snap this USB charger around your wrist for those moments you need to steal some juice from another device.

5. Stellé Audio Clutch – Fashion and music have always gone together and never more so than with this speaker clutch. Don’t miss the Rebecca Minkoff collection.